Why Do We Celebrate?

Ondy Ho
Jan 31, 2022
2 min read

People like different occasions. Christmas, New Year, birthdays... you name it. That's just the start. Then there are those with stories such as Valentines's Day, Lantern's Day, National Day...etc. At last, what's going on with these made-up days such as Valentine's day every month, Black Fridays, and double-digit Days (11/11, 12/12)?

Days like those serve only one purpose. It starts with the letter "B".

It's Lunar New Year's Eve tonight, also known as Chinese New Year's Eve, and most people in Taiwan or those who share a similar culture are getting ready to "the dinner". The New Year dinner is a big family gathering similar to that of Christmas in the west. The details may differ but the idea is... love? Not really, don't you think?

Take Christmas or western holidays away and focus on Asia and specifically Taiwan. A once fun and loving family reunion where families give "lucky money", stay up late on purpose, visit several relatives, visit the temples for well-being, tidy up the house... in a week-long New Year holiday may have turned sour from the inside-out.

Let's face it. Everything revolves around business and there's no better sale pitch than making it a custom, part of the tradition, or even religion. Turn on the news, and you'll see how the prices for the must-serve dishes go up. Why don't we just eat something else? You can't because it goes against "the way". Reasoning goes against the big three as mentioned.

OK, maybe it's better if we just stay home, away from the commercialized world. Asians are very family-oriented. For the record, the phrase "family-oriented" means someone who puts family or loved ones as the top priority. Unfortunately, the meaning has evolved into an unhealthy hierarchy with serious gaslighting and abuse. This is a part where if you know it, you know it whereas you don't, good for you! Full stop here.

Why do we celebrate? Externally, it's what keeps the economy running. Internally, it's a form of control. The thing is, we never need to celebrate. In fact, we shouldn't celebrate at all. Life is short and the world is big. Don't wait for the moment but instead, make the moment. There's absolutely no reason to wait for a made-up day to come. It's your life and you make your own calendar. It's the only way to be free. It's our birthright.

Hence, no Happy New Year from Free The Language. Just go do whatever makes you happy even if it is exactly as the customs. Cheers to choice.